105. Jake Burger, 3B, Chicago White Sox
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 4/10/1996 (21)
Likely 2018 opening level: high-A
Info: Burger may have one of the most meme’d names in all of baseball, but he produced at the plate throughout college to the point where the White Sox were comfortable taking him with the 11th overall selection in the 2017 draft, in site of a typical bias against college power hitters in the draft.
The power in Burger’s bat will be his calling card
Burger then went out and answered one of the biggest questions about his future in a 50-game spurt to finish out his draft season, playing 45 games at third base and showing excellent hands and a powerful arm at the position. He may not make any marks for his range at the hot corner, but he’s a steady fielder there that has the ability to be more than adequate fielding the hot corner, at least early on in his career.
The power in Burger’s bat will be his calling card, however, not his glove. He has a strong right-handed swing that is grooved for loft, but also has zone coverage enough to offer at least average contact going forward, giving Burger the feasible upside of a guy who draws walks with a .250-.270 average with 25+ home run power.
An injury in spring will likely delay the start of Burger’s season, but he should spend his season between high-A and AA this year and be on the fast track to the South Side.
#Astros prospect Hector Perez gives up one hit, strikes out nine over 6 2/3 scoreless innings for @bcreekastros. https://t.co/7rVs6RVMau pic.twitter.com/md7c3RMY5d
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) May 29, 2017
104. Hector Perez, RHP, Houston Astros
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 6/6/1996 (21)
Likely 2018 opening level: AA
Info: Perez’s power stuff works to keep batters on their feet due to his high velocity stuff, but also because he frequently misses out of the zone with that power stuff, which could be a dangerous thing for a hitter.
Perez started working more as a long reliever toward the end of 2017 in high-A, and that could be an ideal spot for him with his big fastball and wipeout slider combination, spotting in a slow curve or splitter every so often to really keep hitters off the two-pitch combo.
Perez could be dominant in the multiple inning relief role or as a closer, but with four pitches (five if he uses his below-average change), the Astros will give him plenty of chances as a starter.
103. Jorge Alfaro, C, Philadelphia Phillies
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 6/11/1993 (24)
Likely 2018 opening level: MLB
Info: Alfaro has been on the public mind, at least among prospect hounds, since he was 17 as Jason Parks, then of Baseball Prospectus, was enamored with the young catcher, calling him the next big thing.
Alfaro’s profile then really remains the same now – for better and for worse. He is a ridiculously athletic player for a catcher, has light-tower raw power, has a cannon for an arm, but also has extreme swing and miss and pitch recognition issues.
After an impressive 29 games at the major league level in 2017, many people have put the fact that in 464 plate appearances Alfaro totaled 19 walks and 146 strikeouts. He also hit .241/.291/.358 in 350 AAA plate appearances, and many have flossed over that due to his MLB performance. While he’s got a high ceiling, for a guy who will open the season as the likely starter in Philly, Alfaro is a guy who still has a low floor.
102. Adonis Medina, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 12/18/1996 (21)
Likely 2018 opening level: high-A
Info: Medina is another in a line of excellent Phillies Latin arms, getting his first exposure to full season ball and taking off with a huge step forward in growth.
Medina works with a fastball that has plenty of weight and runs 93-97, and he showed a ton of improvement in his slider, receiving multiple plus grades from scouts I talked with. His change has become an excellent complement to his fastball and flashes above-average, though he uses it rarely, and he took a big step forward in locating his looping curve.
The four-pitch combination gives Medina the type of arsenal that would allow him to project as a front of the rotation starter. His improved command and control of his entire repertoire should also help him as he moves up to high-A in 2018.
101. Shane Baz, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 6/17/1999 (18)
Likely 2018 opening level: short-season A-ball
Info: Baz was one of the most impressive high school arms entering the 2017 draft with a deeper arsenal of pitches than most, featuring a fastball, cutter, slider, curve, and change, and all of which could be above-average or better. Baz is very athletic, but his delivery can get off at times in spite of his athleticism, which led to issues with control in his draft year.
Baz is a guy with frontline stuff, but he will need to get his control and command in line, which he certainly could with his athleticism. He should see full-season ball this year, but likely will do such after opening at a short-season level or spending time in extended spring.
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